From matching Christmas pajamas and carolling to doing their part for the community, Christmas with the Yongs is always a heartwarming family affair
“Should we put on some Christmas music?” Elizabeth Lee-Yong asks with mirth, amping up her Christmas playlist before anyone could stop her.
Amidst the melody of songs like It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas, she holds up a large fabric red bow, explaining that it’s for her red tartan dress.
Elizabeth and her daughter Blake are old hands at the matching mother-daughter outfit game by now – having a larger-than-life sense of style is a natural by-product of cofounding and running a successful jewellery brand like Bowerhous.
But the gents of the house aren’t about to let ladies have all the fun; and Benjamin Yong soon emerges in a crisp white shirt and a tartan bow-tie along with their youngest child, Baylee.
Photos: Benjamin Baylee Yong's Bay Watch-themed Birthday Party
“Christmas for Ben is all about keeping it simple and traditional,” Elizabeth says with a grin. “Whereas I love an in-your-face, the-tackier-the-better Christmas.”
The towering Christmas tree that stands in the family’s living room has an interesting backstory, Elizabeth tells me.
Having first set eyes on it in Australia over a year back, Benjamin was determined to bring it back to Kuala Lumpur.
“At first, I wasn't sure that we’d even be able to bring it here in time, as it was so close to Christmas and shipping it here would have taken at least a month!” Elizabeth says.
“But Ben was so adamant about the tree, and I thought, 'OK, if he believes he can have the Christmas tree here in time, then we won’t decorate until it comes. Sure enough, he managed to get it on a plane and bring it over."
“That’s one thing I love about Ben, when he says he’s going to make it happen, he makes it happen.”
See also: The Ultimate Guide To Christmas Buffets & Meals In 2019